When you ask the average Joe what his plans for the future are, “having lots of money” is a common reply. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be rich?
Unfortunately, this future ambition doesn’t get achieved by most people. And when you ask these people why, what you’ll hear are excuses — reasons why they haven’t made their first million.
While these excuses seem like valid reasons to most of us, they’re really what’s hindering us from actually achieving this feat. Remove these excuses, and you’ll see an individual with the right strategy and goal to achieve. Here are nine reasons why most people never get to make their first million.
1. You are scared of failing
Those who fear failure never get to overcome it. And to accumulate great wealth, failure needs to be a part of the process. It is through failure that most of the successful people emerged today. So, instead of resisting failure, embrace it. And don’t see it as a blatant setback, but as you learning the ropes of what it takes to be a success.
2. You think you cannot be a success
This is negative thinking and it only takes you farther away from that millionaire status. Believe that you can succeed. The more you visualize yourself as a success, the closer you get to your goal. Sure, dreaming alone won’t make you a million, but it’s the first step. And if you lack motivation to dream, read books. You can start with “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.
3. You associate with the wrong people
The popular saying, “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are” holds very true here. How focused are the people around you? Are they also striving to achieve the kind of goals you want to achieve or are they drawing you back?
If the answers to these questions are negative, then your millionaire dream might not become a reality. Associate with people on the same mission as you because they are your support system. The right people will help make your journey easier and faster.
4. You think you’re limited by your background
This thought only creates a limit to what you can achieve. Your background can never prevent you from being successful. Individuals from some of the poorest families have become multi-millionaires today. If you think this untrue, read Oprah Winfrey’s grass to grace story. That should inspire you.
5. You do not have clear goals
When your goals aren’t clear, you will be unable to take clear actions. And when your actions are fuzzy, being a millionaire becomes impossible. Find out what you want, plan how you will get there, and get to work.
6. You are not using the internet
In other words, you don’t take advantage of trends and so you don’t have current information. To be a millionaire in this fast-paced era, you need to be fast-paced too. Thanks to the internet, a ton of millionaires have emerged. And all they did was take advantage of some of the tools available online.
While some wrote and sold books on Amazon or ClickBank, others built their followings and fortunes on social media. Many others took advantage of online shopping, setting up ecommerce stores with Magento, BigCommerce, or utilizing a combination of platforms like Shopify’s Facebook store.
You can do this too! Search out resources, find what suits you, and get started.
7. You prefer gambling to personal development
Gambling is a get rich quick scheme that doesn’t end well for most people. It has led many to bankruptcy and others to untimely death. Is that the path you want to follow? There’s nothing better than investing in your personal development. Do this by building your skills and increasing your knowledge in a field. I agree it’s not fast, and can be boring sometimes. But when you achieve success, your personal development is what would sustain it.
8. You have no mentor
Having no one to guide you on your quest for success will make your journey long, tiring, and sometimes disappointing. Having a mentor who has achieved what you’re looking to achieve will shorten your journey and get you to that millionaire status faster. A mentor removes guesswork and guides you in the right direction. That’s something to take advantage of.
9. You see money as a bad thing
It is true that money can’t buy happiness. But guess what? It can buy freedom. Having that mindset completely limits your motivation to earn more. As long as you keep seeing money as the enemy, all the points in this post will be of no use to you.
How badly do you really want to be a millionaire? As you strive toward your goal, have these reasons at the top of your mind. Stay focused with the right mindset and you’ll be shocked at the feats you’ll achieve and the success you’ll attain. Don’t stop wanting it and with time, you’ll get it!
Featured photo credit: Steven Depolo via flickr.com
